DOCSLIB.ORG

Diet of the Nankeen Kestrel Falco Cenchroides on Christmas Island

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Diet of the Nankeen Kestrel Falco Cenchroides on Christmas Island 28 AUSTRALIAN FIELD ORNITHOLOGY 2009, 26, 28–32 Diet of the Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides on Christmas Island MARTIN SCHULZ1 and LINDY LUMSDEN Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084 1Present address: Scientific Services Division, Department of Environment and Climate Change, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 2220 (Email: [email protected]) Summary. This note reports on the diet of the Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) from remains located at perches in 2005 and 2008. The dominant prey item was the Giant Grasshopper Valanga irregularis. Other prey included the Christmas Island Swiftlet Collocalia linchi natalis and the introduced Grass Skink Lygosoma bowringii. The Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides is a partially migratory and dispersive species (Olsen & Olsen 1987) that has expanded its range in recent decades, colonising far-offshore islands, including Lord Howe Island in the 1940s and Norfolk Island in the 1960s (Schodde et al. 1983; McAllan et al. 2004). On Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) the species first arrived in the 1940s and was initially present in low numbers in the north-eastern section of the island (Rumpff 1992). By the 1980s the species had expanded its range and significantly increased in abundance (H. Rumpff cited in Lumsden et al. 1999) and still appears to be increasing, although this has not been quantified (Lumsden et al. 2007). Until this species’ colonisation, the only resident raptor on the island was the Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster. The successful establishment of the Kestrel has been associated with habitat alteration resulting from phosphate-mining operations, causing the creation of extensive open minefields. The Kestrel is now widespread across the island, including occurring over primary rainforest adjacent to open habitats. It is commonly observed feeding in regenerating rainforest areas and the extensive minefields, which are characterised by limestone pinnacles and thin soil supporting either bare ground or low vegetation typically dominated by exotic plant species. The impact of this colonising raptor, as a result of human-induced habitat changes, on endemic island fauna has not been documented. The current study investigated the diet of the Kestrel during two visits to the island, in December 2005 and May 2008. In mined areas, the Kestrel frequently perches on the crests of limestone pinnacles or bare dirt mounds, from which individuals scan for potential prey or fly back to consume prey after capture (Plate 8). Accessible pinnacles were searched for prey remains left by the Kestrel in extensive minefields: Fields 25 and 26 in December 2005 and Field 25, on South Point and along the East-West Baseline, in May 2008. Unlike other studies elsewhere (e.g. Gennelly 1978; Debus 1981; Dickman et al. 1991), no pellets were located; instead, all perches were signified by a variety of discarded prey items amongst varying amounts of whitewash. Collection of remains at perches may be advantageous, in that several previous authors recorded the stripping of wings and legs of larger insect prey and the skinning of mammalian prey at feeding stations before consumption (Hayward & MacFarlane 1971; Genelly 1978). Because of the frequent heavy rain on the island, most of VOL. 26 (1–2) march–jUNE 2009 Diet of Nankeen Kestrel on Christmas Island 29 Remains of the Giant Grasshopper Valanga irregularis at a feeding perch on the crest of a limestone pinnacle in a minefield, Christmas Island Plate 8 Photo: Martin Schulz the prey items were collected in small accumulations in recesses or around other obstructions rather than on bare flat surfaces. Where discarded prey remains were found, the number of individuals of each prey species was estimated based on the number of leg pairs (e.g. Orthoptera) or the number of elytra/wings (Coleoptera and Lepidoptera). The presence of other prey items was identified on the basis of recognisable fragments, and was scored as one item per perch. Ninety-six perches with prey remains were located in December 2005 and 19 in May 2008, on pinnacles or dirt mounds respectively in extensive mined areas. Additionally, prey remains were also found under two power-pole perches along Phosphate Hill Road and under three road signs on Vagabond and Lily Beach Roads during December 2005. In total, 2338 individual prey items were identified when both survey periods were combined, of which 97% comprised the Giant Grasshopper Valanga irregularis (Table 1). This species was recorded at 100% of the feeding sites. Smaller numbers of other insects (Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Blattodea and Mantodea) were recorded. The only vertebrates identified were the introduced Grass Skink Lygosoma bowringii (remains found at three perches) and the Christmas Island Swiftlet Collocalia linchi natalis (feathers, wing-bones and other skeletal remains found at 10 perches). No small mammals, such as the Christmas Island Pipistrelle Pipistrellus murrayi, were recorded as prey items. The prey recorded taken by the Nankeen Kestrel in this study falls within the dietary range taken by the species on the Australian mainland (Marchant & Higgins 1993; Aumann 2001; Debus et al. 2007). Of interest was the taking of the Christmas Island Swiftlet, an endemic subspecies. Predation of the Swiftlet might AUSTRALIAN 30 SCHULZ & LUMSDEN FIELD ORNITHOLOGY Table 1 Prey remains of the Nankeen Kestrel collected from feeding perches on Christmas Island (all areas and both sampling periods, December 2005 and May 2008, combined). Prey species Total % total prey No. of feeding % of perch number items perches sites Invertebrates: Giant Grasshopper 2267 97.0 120 100.0 Valanga irregularis Other grasshoppers (Orthoptera) 3 0.1 2 1.7 Christmas Island Jewel Beetle 33 1.4 21 17.5 Chrysoderma simplex Click beetle (Elateridae) 8 0.3 1 0.8 Unidentified beetles (Coleoptera) 3 0.1 3 2.5 Meadow Argus Junonia villida 8 0.3 6 5.0 (Lepidoptera) Unidentified cockroach (Blattodea) 2 0.1 2 1.7 Unidentified mantis (Mantodea) 1 <0.1 1 0.8 Reptiles: Grass Skink Lygosoma bowringii 3 0.1 3 2.5 Birds: Christmas Island Swiftlet 10 0.4 10 8.3 Collocalia linchi natalis Total 2338 100 120 be expected, given that on the mainland other small aerial-feeding birds, such as the Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena and the White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus, have been recorded taken occasionally by the Kestrel (records cited by Marchant & Higgins 1993). No direct observations were made of Kestrels taking the Christmas Island Swiftlet, but Swiftlets may have been captured either on the wing whilst foraging or as they emerged from roosting caves on the edge of primary rainforest. The impact of the self-introduced Nankeen Kestrel on the endemic island fauna is poorly known. It is likely that the greatest impacts occurred in the 1980s when the species’ population rapidly expanded. At this time little attention was focused on the Kestrel, compared with a human-introduced predator, the Asian Wolf Snake Lycodon capucinus that arrived in the mid 1980s (Smith 1988; Rumpff 1992). However, around this time the Kestrel was partially implicated in the decline of the endemic Blue-tailed Skink Cryptoblepharus egeriae around The Settlement (Rumpff 1992). More recently it has been suggested to be a factor in the decline of the Foreshore Skink Emoia atrocostata (Schulz & Barker 2008). Both these lizards commonly bask in open situations, making them susceptible to predation by this raptor, similar to a variety of other small diurnal skinks on the Australian mainland (e.g. Olsen et al. 1979; Dickman et al. 1991; Paull 1991; Starr et al. 2004). It has also been suggested that the Kestrel may have contributed to the decline of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Schulz & Lumsden 2004). Although no predation on this bat by the Kestrel has been observed (e.g. Lumsden et al. 1999), there appears to have been a shift in this bat’s foraging behaviour, with bats VOL. 26 (1–2) march–jUNE 2009 Diet of Nankeen Kestrel on Christmas Island 31 restricted to foraging at night. In contrast, in the early 1980s when the Kestrel was less abundant, Tidemann (1985) observed the Pipistrelle to be active in the late afternoon. Foraging by bats during daylight hours on islands elsewhere in the world has been correlated with a lack of avian predators (Speakman 1995). It could be speculated, although it cannot be confirmed, that the Christmas Island Pipistrelle has altered its activity patterns, delaying emergence until dusk when the risk of predation is lower, in response to the new predation pressure of the self-introduced Nankeen Kestrel, a known predator of small bats (Marchant & Higgins 1993). The impact of this raptor on the Christmas Island Swiftlet is unknown. However, results from this study indicate that its impact needs to be investigated further, and it is recommended that the overall population be monitored. Similarly, the impact of the Nankeen Kestrel through dietary overlap with the Variable Goshawk has not been investigated but requires assessment. Thanks to Clive Barker for assisting in locating perches in the 2008 field trip and Dave James for identifying some of the invertebrate prey items. The 2005 fieldwork was conducted as part of an investigation of the threats to the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, and was funded by Parks Australia North through the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. The 2008 fieldwork was conducted as a component of a terrestrial reptile survey of the island funded by Parks Australia North. References Aumann, T. (2001), ‘An intraspecific and interspecific comparison of raptor diets in the south-west of the Northern Territory, Australia’, Wildlife Research 28, 379–393. Debus, S.J.S. (1981), ‘Food of some raptors at Armidale, New South Wales’, Australian Birds 16, 27. Debus, S.J.S., Ley, A.J.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Meadow Argus Junonia Villida Calybe
    Butterfly GardeningFact sheet Nymphalidae family Meadow Argus Junonia villida calybe Abundance in Adelaide area: Common Flight: Throughout the year Wingspan: m 40 mm; f 43 mm Mature larva length: 32 mm The Meadow Argus is a common butterfly that occurs throughout the Adelaide region. Unfortunately, some of its caterpillar food plants are weeds and not desirable in the home garden. Keen gardeners could try some of the native caterpillar food plants listed here. Because its weedy food plants are so widespread and the butterfly is a strong flier that travels widely, even if you don’t succeed in establishing a breeding colony of Argus butterflies, you should still have them as regular visitors to your nectar plants. Caterpillar food plants: Native herbaceous How these eyespots work is a topic of dispute. plants and many invasive weeds. The caterpillars They either scare a predator into thinking the eat the soft parts of the plants. expanded wings of the butterflies are actually the head of a much larger animal, or attract the Adelaide native species: Common Purslane attention of an attacking bird or lizard, causing (Portulaca oleracea), Fairy Fan-flower (Scaevola them to target the edges of the wings, thus aemula). leaving the body and vital organs of the body of the insect alone. Other South Australian species: Spreading Nut-heads (Epaltes australis), Goodenia spp., The butterfly is a brown colour above, with a pair Fan-flowers (Scaevola spp.), Bluerod (Stemodia of blue centered, black eyespots, surrounded in florulenta). orange, near the outer margin of the wings. Foreign species: Snapdragons and weeds— Underneath, the forewing is quite similar to Centaury, Lippia*, Ribwort* (Plantago lanceolata), the upper surface, though much paler.
    [Show full text]
  • First Confirmed Breeding Record of Plume-Toed Swiftlet Collocalia Affinis in Singapore
    BirdingASIA 31 (2019)(2019): 85–87 85 BREEDING RECORD First confirmed breeding record of Plume-toed Swiftlet Collocalia affinis in Singapore ALFRED CHIA, DING LI YONG, KIM CHUAH LIM, MOVIN NYANASENGERAN, YONG CHEE KEITA SIN, KIM KEANG LIM & SENG BENG YEO Historically the tiny Collocalia swiftlets resident In the meantime, the results of a detailed in both the lowlands and higher altitudes of analysis of the taxonomy of Collocalia swiftlets in Peninsular Malaysia were designated Glossy the Indo-Pacific region (Rheindt et al. 2017) led to Swiftlet C. esculenta cyanoptila (Wells 1999). the proposal of radical changes to the established However, the species was rare on Singapore taxonomy; this was a big challenge due to the mainland, with fewer than 10 records per year, all morphological uniformity of these taxa. Rheindt apparently in the period November to February, et al. (2017) studied the evolutionary history of the which is the non-breeding season in Malaysia complex, combining new biometric measurements (Wells 1999). In recent times the frequency of and plumage assessment of museum specimens records in Singapore has increased, including a with novel as well as previously published group of up to seven birds at Bukit Batok Nature molecular data, with a total of 809 individuals Park in January 2005, as well as regular records representative of 32 taxa being assessed. The thereafter in and at the periphery of the Central authors propose changing the classification of Nature Reserves, and its status was revised to white-bellied swiftlets, for which just two species ‘uncommon’ (Yong et al. 2017, Lim 2018).
    [Show full text]
  • Australian Diurnal Raptors and Airports
    Australian diurnal raptors and airports Photo: John Barkla, BirdLife Australia William Steele Australasian Raptor Association BirdLife Australia Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group Forum Brisbane, 25 July 2013 So what is a raptor? Small to very large birds of prey. Diurnal, predatory or scavenging birds. Sharp, hooked bills and large powerful feet with talons. Order Falconiformes: 27 species on Australian list. Family Falconidae – falcons/ kestrels Family Accipitridae – eagles, hawks, kites, osprey Falcons and kestrels Brown Falcon Black Falcon Grey Falcon Nankeen Kestrel Australian Hobby Peregrine Falcon Falcons and Kestrels – conservation status Common Name EPBC Qld WA SA FFG Vic NSW Tas NT Nankeen Kestrel Brown Falcon Australian Hobby Grey Falcon NT RA Listed CR VUL VUL Black Falcon EN Peregrine Falcon RA Hawks and eagles ‐ Osprey Osprey Hawks and eagles – Endemic hawks Red Goshawk female Hawks and eagles – Sparrowhawks/ goshawks Brown Goshawk Photo: Rik Brown Hawks and eagles – Elanus kites Black‐shouldered Kite Letter‐winged Kite ~ 300 g Hover hunters Rodent specialists LWK can be crepuscular Hawks and eagles ‐ eagles Photo: Herald Sun. Hawks and eagles ‐ eagles Large ‐ • Wedge‐tailed Eagle (~ 4 kg) • Little Eagle (< 1 kg) • White‐bellied Sea‐Eagle (< 4 kg) • Gurney’s Eagle Scavengers of carrion, in addition to hunters Fortunately, mostly solitary although some multiple strikes on aircraft Hawks and eagles –large kites Black Kite Whistling Kite Brahminy Kite Frequently scavenge Large at ~ 600 to 800 g BK and WK flock and so high risk to aircraft Photo: Jill Holdsworth Identification Beruldsen, G (1995) Raptor Identification. Privately published by author, Kenmore Hills, Queensland, pp. 18‐19, 26‐27, 36‐37.
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on the Raptor Community of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia
    129 AUSTRALIAN FIELD ORNITHOLOGY 2011, 28, 129–132 Observations on the Raptor Community of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia A.J.G. SUTTON 157 Nawaday Way, Singleton, New South Wales 2330 (Email: [email protected]) Summary Fourteen species of diurnal raptor were observed during roadside surveys and nest searches of the Newman district, in the eastern Pilbara region of arid north-western Australia, in 1987–88. Breeding data (months in which nestlings were present) are presented for eight of these species, and dietary observations or pellet analyses are presented for five. Raptor community structure, particularly with respect to bird-eating falcons in various size-classes, appeared similar to that elsewhere in the arid zone. Introduction There has been only one detailed study of the diurnal raptor community in the Australian arid zone, in the south-west of the Northern Territory (Aumann 2001a–d). Otherwise, apart from historical annotated bird or raptor lists for parts of the arid zone, there has been one other study of diurnal raptors, in arid north- eastern South Australia (Falkenberg et al. 2000; Falkenberg 2011), and an anecdotal account of some of the raptors at sites also in arid South Australia (Debus et al. 2006). This paper presents the results of road-transect surveys and nest searches for raptors in arid north-western Australia, obtained during a study on the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos (see Sutton 2011). Study area and methods The study area was that part of the Pilbara region within a 100-km radius of Newman (23°21′S, 119°43′E), in the Ophthalmia Range off the eastern Hamersley Range in arid north-western Western Australia (see Sutton 2011 for further details and references).
    [Show full text]
  • Unsustainable Food Systems Threaten Wild Crop and Dolphin Species
    INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Embargoed until: 07:00 GMT (16:00 JST) 5 December 2017 Elaine Paterson, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, m +41 792760185, email [email protected] [In Japan] Cheryl-Samantha MacSharry, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Download photographs here Download summary statistics here Unsustainable food systems threaten wild crop and dolphin species Tokyo, Japan, 5 December 2017 (IUCN) – Species of wild rice, wheat and yam are threatened by overly intensive agricultural production and urban expansion, whilst poor fishing practices have caused steep declines in the Irrawaddy Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Today’s Red List update also reveals that a drying climate is pushing the Ringtail Possum to the brink of extinction. Three reptile species found only on an Australian island – the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink, the Blue- tailed Skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and the Lister’s Gecko – have gone extinct, according to the update. But in New Zealand, conservation efforts have improved the situation for two species of Kiwi. “Healthy, species-rich ecosystems are fundamental to our ability to feed the world’s growing population and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 – to end hunger by 2030,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Wild crop species, for example, maintain genetic diversity of agricultural crops
    [Show full text]
  • ONEP V09.Pdf
    Compiled by Jarujin Nabhitabhata Tanya Chan-ard Yodchaiy Chuaynkern OEPP BIODIVERSITY SERIES volume nine OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND PLANNING MINISTRY OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT 60/1 SOI PIBULWATTANA VII, RAMA VI RD., BANGKOK 10400 THAILAND TEL. (662) 2797180, 2714232, 2797186-9 FAX. (662) 2713226 Office of Environmental Policy and Planning 2000 NOT FOR SALE NOT FOR SALE NOT FOR SALE Compiled by Jarujin Nabhitabhata Tanya Chan-ard Yodchaiy Chuaynkern Office of Environmental Policy and Planning 2000 First published : September 2000 by Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (OEPP), Thailand. ISBN : 974–87704–3–5 This publication is financially supported by OEPP and may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non–profit purposes without special permission from OEPP, providing that acknowledgment of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purposes. Citation : Nabhitabhata J., Chan ard T., Chuaynkern Y. 2000. Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles in Thailand. Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, Bangkok, Thailand. Authors : Jarujin Nabhitabhata Tanya Chan–ard Yodchaiy Chuaynkern National Science Museum Available from : Biological Resources Section Natural Resources and Environmental Management Division Office of Environmental Policy and Planning Ministry of Science Technology and Environment 60/1 Rama VI Rd. Bangkok 10400 THAILAND Tel. (662) 271–3251, 279–7180, 271–4232–8 279–7186–9 ext 226, 227 Facsimile (662) 279–8088, 271–3251 Designed & Printed :Integrated Promotion Technology Co., Ltd. Tel. (662) 585–2076, 586–0837, 913–7761–2 Facsimile (662) 913–7763 2 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Contribution of Policy, Law, Management, Research, and Advocacy Failings to the Recent Extinctions of Three Australian Vertebrate Species
    This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Woinarski, J. C. Z., Garnett, S. T., Legge, S. M., & Lindenmayer, D. B. (2017). The contribution of policy, law, management, research, and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of three Australian vertebrate species. Conservation Biology, 31(1), 13-23; which has been published in final form at http://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12852 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. The contribution of policy, law, management, research, and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of three Australian vertebrate species John C.Z. Woinarski,*,a Stephen T. Garnett,* Sarah M. Legge,* † David B. Lindenmayer ‡ * Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia, † Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia ‡ Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Programme, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia aemail [email protected] Keywords: Bramble Cay melomys, Christmas Island forest skink, Christmas Island pipistrelle, conservation policy, inquest, legislation, threatened species Running head: Extinction contributing factors Abstract Extinctions typically have ecological drivers, such as habitat loss. However, extinction events are also influenced by policy and management settings that may be antithetical to biodiversity conservation, inadequate to prevent extinction, insufficiently resourced, or poorly implemented. Three endemic Australian vertebrate species – the Christmas Island pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi), Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola), and Christmas Island forest skink (Emoia nativitatis) – became extinct from 2009 to 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • View Preprint
    Does evolution of plumage patterns and of migratory behaviour in Apodini swifts (Aves: Apodiformes) follow distributional range shifts? Dieter Thomas Tietze, Martin Päckert, Michael Wink The Apodini swifts in the Old World serve as an example for a recent radiation on an intercontinental scale on the one hand. On the other hand they provide a model for the interplay of trait and distributional range evolution with speciation, extinction and trait s t transition rates on a low taxonomic level (23 extant taxa). Swifts are well adapted to a life n i mostly in the air and to long-distance movements. Their overall colouration is dull, but r P lighter feather patches of chin and rump stand out as visual signals. Only few Apodini taxa e r breed outside the tropics; they are the only species in the study group that migrate long P distances to wintering grounds in the tropics and subtropics. We reconstructed a dated molecular phylogeny including all species, numerous outgroups and fossil constraints. Several methods were used for historical biogeography and two models for the study of trait evolution. We finally correlated trait expression with geographic status. The differentiation of the Apodini took place in less than 9 Ma. Their ancestral range most likely comprised large parts of the Old-World tropics, although the majority of extant taxa breed in the Afrotropic and the closest relatives occur in the Indomalayan. The expression of all three investigated traits increased speciation rates and the traits were more likely lost than gained. Chin patches are found in almost all species, so that no association with phylogeny or range could be found.
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to the Birds of Barrow Island
    A Guide to the Birds of Barrow Island Operated by Chevron Australia This document has been printed by a Sustainable Green Printer on stock that is certified carbon in joint venture with neutral and is Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) mix certified, ensuring fibres are sourced from certified and well managed forests. The stock 55% recycled (30% pre consumer, 25% post- Cert no. L2/0011.2010 consumer) and has an ISO 14001 Environmental Certification. ISBN 978-0-9871120-1-9 Gorgon Project Osaka Gas | Tokyo Gas | Chubu Electric Power Chevron’s Policy on Working in Sensitive Areas Protecting the safety and health of people and the environment is a Chevron core value. About the Authors Therefore, we: • Strive to design our facilities and conduct our operations to avoid adverse impacts to human health and to operate in an environmentally sound, reliable and Dr Dorian Moro efficient manner. • Conduct our operations responsibly in all areas, including environments with sensitive Dorian Moro works for Chevron Australia as the Terrestrial Ecologist biological characteristics. in the Australasia Strategic Business Unit. His Bachelor of Science Chevron strives to avoid or reduce significant risks and impacts our projects and (Hons) studies at La Trobe University (Victoria), focused on small operations may pose to sensitive species, habitats and ecosystems. This means that we: mammal communities in coastal areas of Victoria. His PhD (University • Integrate biodiversity into our business decision-making and management through our of Western Australia)
    [Show full text]
  • Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, Including a New Genus and Species of Megapode
    Archived at the Flinders Academic Commons: http://dspace.flinders.edu.au/dspace/ ‘This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Worthy, T., Hawkins, S., Bedford, S. and Spriggs, M. (2015). Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, including a new genus and species of megapode. Pacific Science, 69(2) pp. 205-254. which has been published in final form at DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2984/69.2.6 Article: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2984/69.2.6 Journal: http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/t-pacific-science Copyright 2015, University of Hawaii Press. Published version of the article is reproduced here with permission from the publisher." Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, Including a New Genus and Species of Megapode1 Trevor H. Worthy,2,5 Stuart Hawkins,3 Stuart Bedford,4 and Matthew Spriggs 4 Abstract: The avifauna of the Teouma archaeological site on Efate in Vanuatu is described. It derives from the Lapita levels (3,000 – 2,800 ybp) and immedi- ately overlying middens extending to ~2,500 ybp. A total of 30 bird species is represented in the 1,714 identified specimens. Twelve species are new records for the island, which, added to previous records, indicates that minimally 39 land birds exclusive of passerines were in the original avifauna. Three-fourths of the 12 newly recorded species appear to have become extinct by the end of Lapita times, 2,800 ybp. The avifauna is dominated by eight species of columbids (47.5% Minimum Number Individuals [MNI ]) including a large extinct tooth- billed pigeon, Didunculus placopedetes from Tonga, and a giant Ducula sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Range Extensions of Lycodon Capucinus BOIE, 1827 in Eastern
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa Jahr/Year: 2004 Band/Volume: 17_3_4 Autor(en)/Author(s): Kuch Ulrich, McGuire Jimmy A. Artikel/Article: Range Extensions of Lycodon capucinus BOIE, 1827 in eastern Indonesia 191-193 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 17 (3/4) Wien, 30. Dezember 2004 SHORT NOTE 191 Wiebeisheim (Aula). CRNOBRNJA-ISAILOVIC, J. & China, the Philippines, and Indonesia (DE ALEKSIC, I. (1999): First record of Coluber najadum Roou 1917; DE HAAS 1950; BOSCH 1985; EICHWALD (1831) in Serbia.-Arch. Biol. Sci., Belgrade; 51 (3): 47P-48P. DIMOVSKI, A. (1963): Herpetofauna ISKANDAR & COLIJN 2001). A recent colo- na skopska kotlina. I - zoogeografski i ekoloski pre- nization of Christmas Island, about 320 km gled.- Godisen zbornik Prirodno-matematickog fakul- south of Java, was reported by L. A. SMITH teta, Univerziteta u Skoplju, Skoplje; knjiga 14, (1988). In eastern Indonesia, L. capucinus Biologija2: 189-221. DIMOVSKI, A. (1966): Herpeto- fauna na skopska kotlina. II - faunisticki del.- Godisen has been known from central, southwestern, zbornik Prirodno-matematickog fakulteta, Univerziteta and southeastern Sulawesi (DE ROOU 1917; u Skoplju, Skoplje; knjiga 16, Biologija 4: 179-188. ISKANDAR & TJAN 1996) and from the DZUKIC, G (1972): Herpetoloska zbirka Prirodnjackog Lesser Sunda Islands of Sumbawa, Sumba, muzeja u Beogradu. (Herpetological collection of the Belgrade museum of natural history).- Glasnik Savu, Roti, Timor, Flores, Lomblem, Alor, Prirodnjackog muzeja, Beograd; (Ser. B) 27: 165-180. Lembata, and Wetar (DE ROOU 1917; How et DZUKIC, G (1995): Diverzitet vodozemaca (Amphibia) al.
    [Show full text]
  • A Plague of Mice at Warren by J
    July J HOBBS, Mice Plague 43 r971 who made the first general ornithological collection in the area. That man, a young fellow named George Harper, who had reached Australia from Britain about 1820 with letters of recom­ mendation from Sir Walter Scott, was given a grant of land at Picton, whence he appears to have ranged considerably in amas­ sing natural history material. In consequence, according to the Sydney Gazette of February 3, 1827, he was then able to take to Britain a great many specimens, including no fewer than 1675 bird­ skins, as well as two living Emus that rather alarmed Sir Walter Scott. Some of Harper's bird-skins were bought by Sir William Jardine; others were acquired by the Edinburgh Museum. It would be interesting now, 140-odd years later, to have news of those specimens. A Plague of Mice at Warren By J. N. HOBBS, Katoomba, New South Wales INTRODUCTION It is generally accepted that certain species of birds will con­ gregate at plagues of insects or rodents, but more detailed docu­ mentations of such visitations are rare. House Mice, Mus musculus were in plague proportions in many parts of the wheat belt of eastern and southern Australia in the autumn and early winter of 1970. In May 1970, I made a short visit to Warren, New South Wales, one of the areas overrun by the mice. I had been there also in December 1969, before the build-up in the numbers of mice, and, therefore, was able to mal<e a comparison of the numbers of known and probable birct"'predators of mice at the two visits.
    [Show full text]